Representing Low-Resource Languages and Dialects: Improved Neural Methods for Spoken Language Processing

Languages are fundamental to human communication and serve as a means to express social and cultural values. However, many people treat languages as homogeneous entities, disregarding the fact that they are often composed of multiple varieties. These language varieties may be tied to certain geographical locations or the cultural identity of the speakers.Studying language variation can thus provide valuable insights into how language varieties relate to their linguistic communities. Most language varieties do not correspond to administrative boundaries, such as provinces or states within nations, and neighboring varieties often transition gradually.In this dissertation, we presented a new method to describe and model linguistic diversity. Specifically, we leveraged deep learning or artificial neural network models to quantify differences between the pronunciations of speakers from different language varieties. This new method assesses the differences between language varieties more accurately and efficiently compared to previously-used methods.Additionally, we investigated the use of these neural network models to develop speech technology to help empower language varieties. We developed an audio-based search algorithm that can automatically identify occurrences of a spoken search term in a large collection of spoken materials, improving access to resources that would normally require manual annotation. Furthermore, we presented approaches to improve speech recognition performance for several language varieties from different language families. This technology could, for example, be used to generate subtitles for videos or television broadcasts. This can be a promising step towards the important goal of developing speech technology that is inclusive of the world’s languages

Mission, Performance Indicators, and Assessment in U. S. Honors: A View from the Netherlands

Amission statement that identifies the goals and aims of an honors program is a key step in program development. The NCHC’s Basic Characteristics of a Fully Developed Honors Program states unequivocally that a successful honors program “has a clear mandate from the institution’s administration in the form of a mission statement or charter document that includes the objectives and responsibilities of honors and defines the place of honors in the administrative and academic structure of the institution.” According to Mrozinski, mission statements are public definitions of purpose published in a college‘s catalog, website, or other planning documents and are generally required by accrediting bodies. Such mission statements have now become standard for honors programs and colleges

Right ventricular adaptation in congenital heart diseases

In the last four decades, enormous progress has been made in the treatment of congenital heart diseases (CHD); most patients now survive into adulthood, albeit with residual lesions. As a consequence, the focus has shifted from initial treatment to long-term morbidity and mortality. An important predictor for long-term outcome is right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, but knowledge on the mechanisms of RV adaptation and dysfunction is still scarce. This review will summarize the main features of RV adaptation to CHD, focusing on recent knowledge obtained in experimental models of the most prevalent abnormal loading conditions, i.e., pressure load and volume load. Models of increased pressure load for the RV have shown a similar pattern of responses, i.e., increased contractility, RV dilatation and hypertrophy. Evidence is accumulating that RV failure in response to increased pressure load is marked by progressive diastolic dysfunction. The mechanisms of this progressive dysfunction are insufficiently known. The RV response to pressure load shares similarities with that of the LV, but also has specific features, e.g., capillary rarefaction, oxidative stress and inflammation. The contribution of these pathways to the development of failure needs further exploration. The RV adaptation to increased volume load is an understudied area, but becomes increasingly important in the growing groups of survivors of CHD, especially with tetralogy of Fallot. Recently developed animal models may add to the investigation of the mechanisms of RV adaptation and failure, leading to the development of new RV-specific therapies.</p